New Years Resolutions

The definition of Resolution “is a firm decision to do or not to do something.”

Depending on how old you are today, you have likely heard the phrase “New Year’s Resolution” many, many times. Equally as many times, you have heard of the vast number of New Year’s Resolutions that FAIL, year after year. Read on a little more and I will help you eliminate New Year’s FAILURE.

Are you ready, here is the best way to not FAIL at New Year’s Resolutions. 

Don’t Make any!!!  Do not Resolve anything for the new Year. Want for success, rewards and happiness in the new year, but do not rely on New Year’s Resolutions to make them happen.

I have a much better way for you to create success, reward and accomplishments in your new Year.

The way for you to be successful, to accomplish anything, to create rewards for yourself is to use these three philosophies:

Philosophy # 1 – Be Deliberate in your actions. Every activity you perform, every month, every day, every minute of your life must have a deliberate purpose.

The definition of Deliberate is “done consciously and intentionally.” Everything you do in life must be done consciously and intentionally.

• Are you eating that cookie because you deliberately need it, want it or can’t live with out it?
• Are you smoking that cigarette, drinking that beer or taking those drugs for a deliberate needed purpose?
• Are you sitting on that couch watching TV, reading a book or writing a letter because of a deliberate need or purpose.
• Are you spending time or not spending time with family, friends, business partners, etc for a deliberate reason or purpose.
• Are you having a loving & compassionate conversation with your significant other right now, or ignoring someone who needs to be ignored at this moment.

Don’t misunderstand me, we need to be spontaneous; however even spontaneity can be deliberate and intentional. Also, there is also a deliberate purpose to eating food, having a beer, relaxing, reading, being alone or hanging out with others. The way to create real success and rewards in life is know the deliberate reason you are about to do whatever it is you are about to do.

If you can’t determine the deliberate reason, consider not doing it, or stopping what you are doing.

Philosophy # 2 – Have Focus on the big and small Goals you have for your life.

The definition of Focus is “the center of interest or activity.”

Many sales organizations tell their staff to pin a picture of their goal in their cubicle, where it can be seen every day. I remember pinning a picture of a multi-million dollar lake front property in my cubicle.

In business we tell our leaders to have BHAG – Big Hairy Audacious Goals.

What I realized, in my life, is that having BHAGs without also Focusing on smaller stepping stone goals in my life was the same as making New Year’s Resolutions. I would FAIL.

When I created Focus, set my center of interest or activity on these smaller stepping stone goals, I became much more successful. I achieved my smaller goals which led me to being able to Focus on the next step and ultimately achieve the BHAG.

Having Focus on deliberate small stepping stone goals significantly increases the opportunity for success and reduces the potential for FAILURE.

If you can’t Focus on your goals, deliberately stop. Go play with the dog until you muster up the focus to be successful.

Philosophy # 3 – Have Desire for selfish and selfless things in life.

The definition of Desire is “a strong feeling of wanting to have something.”

If everything you desire in life is all about yourself, you’ll ultimately FAIL because selfishness is a terrible life trait.

As well, if your desires are totally selfless, you’ll FAIL as well. You can not ignore, or even pretend do ignore, your own desires in life.

For me, wanting lake front property was really only a symbol. I honestly did not want to own another home. What I truly wanted was the freedom to live a life that I really enjoyed living. Spending time with family and friends, enjoying what I am doing and where I am, while having a positive impact on the lives of the people I engaged with.

When I became clear about my true desires in life, I became more successful.

Dig deep into yourself. Find that honest desire that you have for your life. Being clear on your life desires helps you to be more focused and deliberate about your activities in life.

I believe that our life desires should be broad and diverse. We should want for our lives, careers, businesses and communities. Our wants should be selfish as well as selfless.

The clearer we are on what we want in our life, the easier it’s going to be to perform deliberate focused activities in life.

If you don’t know what it is that you truly desire in life go have a conversation with someone and find some ideas that will create real desire in your life.

To summarize:

New Years Resolutions

Do not declare New Years Resolutions. They mostly FAIL.

Instead, be Deliberate about your activities in life, have Focus on your stepping stone goals and your BHAG while being absolutely clear on your life’s Desire.

This will help you to create success, rewards and happiness in 2014.

Happy New Year!